Brawley Elks LodgePage 58

California Task

Reaching the men in Brawley, California was a more difficult proposition for me. Brawley is a city in Southern California with a population of approximately 25,000. I had however noted that most church members already attended of the Rotary, Elks, Kiwanis or other lodges in town, so I decided to join up too. When the Brawley Elk Lodge (or the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks with one million members) learned that I worked for the church, they immediately elected me their "Honorary Chaplain!" I felt this was a very eminent position until my duties became clear.✞

Touching Tribute

Apart from saying an occasional prayer, my main task as the Lodge was calling out the winning numbers in the lodge raffles! I was the honest one apparently! At eleven o'clock, no matter what was happening, everything stopped for a minutes silence. Not a whisper, not a sound was heard. Bowed heads slowly raised to recite together. "The faults of our departed brothers, we write upon the sands . . . their goodness upon the memory of our hearts."This was a touching tribute to departed friends.✞